Heat exchanger system



Oct 6, 1943,. A. A. ABBATIELLO HEAT EXCHANGER SYSTEM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed Feb. 5, 1942 Fig.1.

h I Z Inventor I An thong A.Abbatiello,

His Attorneg.

1943- A. A. ABBATIELLQ 2,332,882

HE'AT EXCHANGER SYSTEM Filed Feb. 5, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.3.

FILL COOLER 1.; FILL cooLER 1'4 cooum 14 0001.5? If 11v OPERATION? INOPERATION a ga-Izzy? I FROM PUMP Inventor: Anthony A.Abbatieilo,

b9 m /ijfimc y His Attorney.

Patented Oct. 26, 1943 near sxonancaa SYSTEM Anthony Anabbatiello,Schenectady, N.. Y., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporationof New York Application February 5, 1942, Serial No. 429,667

'7 Claims. (01. 257-215) The present invention relates to heat exchangersystems for transferring heat from. oil or like medium to anothermedium. More particularly, the invention relates to oil cooling systemsof the kind including several oil coolers for alternate use. Theinvention is of particular significance in connection with elastic fluidpower plants in which oil or like liquid is continuously circulated froma source. through an oil cooler to bearings, hydraulic motors and otherelements requiring oil under pressure during operation. The oildischarge from these elements is returned to the source. Several coolersare usually provided to avoid interruption of operation in-case one ofthe coolers has to be shut down for the pur-.

pose of cleaning or repair. Thechange of operation from one cooler toanother cooler usually is effected by a valve mechanism. Difllcultieshave heretofore been experienced with this kind of arrangement uponsudden transfer of operation from one cooler to another cooler withoutgiving such other cooler sufflcient time to become filled with oil.

The object of my invention is to provide an improved construction andarrangement of heat exchanger systems, in particular oil cooler systems,for use in turbine power plants and the like whereby the abovedifliculties are substantially eliminated. This is accomplished inaccordance with my invention by the provision of means including alocking device cooperatively associated with the valve mechanism andmaking it impossible to transfer the operation of the system from onecooler to another as long as such other cooler is not completely filledwith oil or like liquid.

For a better understanding of what I believe to be novel and myinvention, attention is directed to the following description and theclaims appended thereto in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings Fig. 1 illustrates an oil cooler system embodyingmy'invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view partly broken away of a partof Fig. 1; and Fig. 3 is an explanatory view of the arrangement of Fig.1 when viewed from the rear.

the upper headers by a bank or banks of cooling tubes 2|. Duringoperation cooling medium such as water is conducted through the inletconduit to be cooled connected to a valve mechanism 24. 7 Similarly thesecond cooler |5 has an inlet conduit 25 and an outlet conduit 26correspondin tothe. conduits 22 and .23 respectively of the first coolerand also connected to the valve mechanism 24. The mechanism 24 broadlyconstitutes a double valve, that is a unit of two valves for connectingeither of the coolers in series between the mechanism 24 and theconsumer i2.

The valve mechanism has an inlet conduit 21 connected to the dischargeof a pump 23 which latter hasan inlet conduit 29. The valve mechanism 24and the pump 28 are substantially immersed in the oil in the tank Illand the pump is driven by a shalt 30 projecting through the cover of thetank ill and ordinarily driven through a gearing by a prime mover orlike power agency, not shown. The valve. mechanism also has a dischargeconduit 3| for conducting oil to the consumer l2. g Y

The valve mechanism as shown in Figs. 2 and 3 comprises aconically-shaped casing 32 and a rotatable valve member in the form of aplug valve 33. which are attached the aforementioned conduits 22, 23,25, 26, 21 and 3|. The three conduits 22, 26 and 21 are connected tolower portions of the casing 32 and the other conduits 23, 26 and 3| areconnected to upper portions of the casing 32. The

. which in one position, as indicated in Fig. 2,

The arrangement comprises a tank III for concovers the openings to whichthe conduits 22, 23

are connected. Upon rotation of the plug valve member 33 the wall 34covers the openings to which the conduits 25. 26 are connected. Thevalve member 33 in addition has a disk 35 integrally formed with anintermediate portion of the wall 34 and a ring 36 integrally formed withthe lower end of the wall 34. The upper'end of the wall 34 is integrallysecured to a top 31 to which a' valve stem 33 is connected; The stem 38'is enclosed in a bushing 38a flanged to the cover or the tank III. Theupper wall or top 31, the disk 33 and the'ring 33 are connected by a re-The casing 32 has six openin s to inforcing rib is arrangeddiametrically opposite the wall 3|.

The plug valve member 33 together with the casing 32 form two chambers40 and 4|. The lower chamber 45, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, communicatcswith the conduits 25 and 21 and the upper chamber 4! communicates withthe conduits 25 and 2|. Thus, in the position shown, oil is dischargedfrom the pump 28, conducted through the conduit 21 to the chamber 40 anddischarged therefromto the conduit 25 into the secand cooler l5. Oil isdischarged from the latter through the conduit 25 into the chamber 4whence the oil is conducted through the conduit 3| to the consumer |2.Upon turning of the plug valve 33 the cooler i4 is put into operation.In this case, as described above, oil is discharged from the pump 28through the pipe 21 into the chamber 55, whence it is conducted throughthe conduit 22 to the cooler l4 and discharged from the latter throughthe conduit 23 into the chamber 4|. From the latter the oil is forcedthrough the conduit 3| into the consumer l2. The rotatable valve memberis moved from one position to another position by means of a handwheel42 securedtothe upper end of the stem 38. The handwheel has a mark 43 incooperative relation with other marks 56 and 35. In Fig. 3 the mark 53registers with the mark 54, indicating that the cooler i is inoperation. Upon counterclockwise turning of the wheel 52 until the mark43 re isters with the mark 55 the cooler I4 is placed in operation.

As stated above, my invention comprises the provision of means forlocking the valve mechanism and making it impossible to change fromoperation of one cooler to the other cooler until such other cooler issubstantially filled with oil. As shown in Fig. l, the cooler I5 is inoperation and substantially entirely filled with oil while the cooler i5is only partly filled. Each cooler l4, l5 has a vent 85 slightly belowthe upper headers l8, 11. During the operation of a cooler its oil levelis above the vent and after such cooler is put out of operation the oillevel is below the vent. The vents 45 may be omitted in case theconnections of the conduits 23 and 28 to the coolers are close to theheaders of the coolers l4 and I5, respectively.

In a preferred embodiment the locking mechanism according to myinvention includes an element, such as a locking pin, cooperativelyassociated with the valve mechanism normally preventing completerotation of the latter but permitting limited movement. This lockingelement is connected to a pressure responsive device, such as ahydraulic motor arranged for connection to the cooler to be filled. Thishydraulic motor has a vent. As long as the cooler to be operated ispartly empty, air is discharged therefrom to the pressure responsivedevice and passes through its vent, thus preventing the building up of asubstantial pressure in the device. As soon as the cooler is filled withoil, oil is passed therefrom into the pressure responsive device. 011having a high viscosity as compared with air passes only slowly throughsaid vent and thus causes the building up of pressure in the devicewhereby the latter is moved to unlock said locking member; In thearrangement shown in the drawings I have indicated a locking pin 47 incooperation with one of two openings or slots 45 and 45 in the stem 38.In Figs. 2 and 3 the lock-'- ing pin 47. projects into the opening 45.Each opening 45, 55 extends over a circumferential portion of the stem35 of a width sufllcient to permit slight rotation of the latter. Thus,in the position shown in Fig. 3, the stem 55 may be rotated to move themark 53 to register with a mark 5|! in which position the other cooler,in the present instance the cooler ll, is being filled with oil foroperation.

The locking pin 41 forms-a projection of a piston 5| slidably disposedwithin a cylinder 52 suitably attached to a coverplate 53 of the valvecasing 32. The piston 5| is biased into locking position of the pin 58by a spring 55 engaging at one end the piston 5| and at the other end aspring plate 55. The latter is threaded onto a stud 56 suitably securedto a mounting plate 51 bolted onto the end of the cylinder 52. Aneye-bolt 58 projects slidably through a bore of the stud 55 and isfastened to the piston 5| for the purpose of moving the piston 5|against the biasing force of the spring 55 during emergency conditions.The bottom of the cylinder 52 and the piston 5| form a pressure chamber59 between them which is vented to atmosphere by a small vent or bore.50 in the cylinder 52. The chamber 59 may be connected to communicatewith either of the coolers II and |5 upon rotation of the valve stem 38.Thus in the arrangement shown the chamber 55 may be connected tocommunicate with the cooler M upon slight turning of the handwheel 52until the mark 43 registers with the mark 50. To this end the cylinder52 is provided. with a channel 6| connected to a vertical bore orchannel 52 in the casing 52. The lower end of the channel 52communicates with a radial bore or channel 53 in the casing 32, whichlatter upon turning of the plug valve 33 communicates with acircumferential short recess 55 (Figs. 2 and 3) in the outer surface ofthe wall 34. Assuming now that the plug valve 33 is slightly turned toestablish communication between the recess 5| and the channel 63. Airmay then be discharged from the cooler ll (Fig. 3) through the conduit25 into the recess 55, whence the air flows through the channels 55, 52,5| into the pressure chamber 59 and is vented therefrom through the vent55. The vent 55, as pointed out above, permits rapid discharge of air orlike gas and thus prevents the building upof pressure in the chamber 59during the discharge of air from the cooler ll. While thus air isdischarged from the cooler l4 through the vent 85 of the pressureresponsive device, oil is supplied at the same time to the cooler II.This supply is accomplished by the provision of a hole 55 in the wall34. The hole 55 and the vents 45 and 55 have to be properly proportionedfor best result. Upon slight rotation of the wall 54 the hole 55establishes'communicatlon between the chamber ll and the conduit 23(Fig. 3). Thus, while the cooler l5 continues to operate upon slightturning of the plug valve,- simultaneously air is discharged from thecooler l4 and oil is supplied to the latter. The discharge of air fromthe cooler I through the vent 60 01' the pressure responsive device aswell as through the vent 55 of the cooler ll continues until the oillevel in the cooler ll rises above the connection of the conduit 23 withthe cooler ll. As the of the spring 54 into a position in which thelocking pin is entirely removed from the opening 48 in the valve stem38. In the unlocked position of the pin 41 the valve stem may be turnedcounterclockwise into the operating position of the cooler 14 in whichthe mark 43 registers with the mark 50. Thus, the operator must waituntil the valve stem 38 is unlocked before he can turn the handwheel 42into the position marked cooler 14 in operation."

The arrangement so far described includes means to prevent operation ofthe cooler l4 until such cooler I4 is filled with oil. This arrangementincludes the provision of the recess 84 in the outer surface of the wall34 and the bore 85 through the wall.

In order to prevent rapid transfer of operation from the cooler -l4 tothe cooler l5 until the latter is filled with oil, I provid anotherrecess 86 in the outer surface of the wall 34, corresponding to therecess 64, and another bore 81 through the wall 34 and corresponding tothe bore 85. During transfer. from operation of the cooler I 4 to thecooler IS the operation of the arrangement is similar to that describedabove. The recess 68 serves to establish communication between theconduit 28 and the channel 83, permitting the discharge of air from thecooler l5 through the pressure responsive device. Simultaneously oil issupplied from the chamber 4| through the bore 81 to the conduit 28 andthe cooler i6.

During emergency condition a sudden transfer from on cooler to the othercooler may be effected by manually unlocking the pin 4! and this is doneby pulling the eyebolt 88 outward against the biasing force of thespring 84. The tension of the spring 54 may be varied. To this end alocking nut 88 locking the stud 58 to the mounting plate 81 is loosened.Thereupon the stud 88 may be turned in either direction to move thespring plate 58 towards or away from the mounting plate 51. Uponadjustment th locking nut 88 is tightened again on themounting plate 81.The spring plate 85 is normally held in fixed position and preventedfrom rotation by a locking pin 88 (Fig. 3) secured to the mounting plate81 and projecting into an opening of the spring plate 88.

Thus with my invention I have accomplished an improved construction andarrangement of heat exchanger systems. Such system includes a source ofliquid, two heat exchangers and means including a valve mechanism forconnecting in one position one of the heat exchangers in series betweenthe source of liquid and a consumer for liquid under pressure, and inanother position for connecting the other heat exchanger or cooler.

in series between such source and consumer; The valve mechanism is movedfrom one position to the other by means of an actuating member such as arod'and a handwheel in the above instance. A locking means is associatedwith the actuatin member normally to prevent sudden transfer ofoperation from one cooler to the other and to permit limited movementonly of the valve mechanism. A device, in the above instance a pressureresponsive device, forming a pressure chamber' is associated with thelocking means to render the-latter inoperative as the cooler to be putinoperation is substantially filled with liquid. Said pressure responsivedevice in acertain position of the valve mechanism communicates with thecooler to be placed in operation and causes the building up ofpressure-to render the locking means inoperative when the liquid in .thecooler to be operatedhas reached a certain level.

The valve mechanism in a preferred embodiment, as described above,briefly includes a casing with a plug or valve member therein. Thecasing together with the plug form two chambers, a first chamber forconnection to a source of liquid under pressure such as a pump and asecond chamber for connection to a consumer of liquid. The casing of thevalve mechanismhas two pairs of additional openings. one pair forcommunication with the first chamber and another pair for communicationwith the second chamber. In

one position of the plug member, one opening of each pair is connectedto the inlet and outlet respectively of a first cooler and in any otherposition of theplug member the other opening of each pair is connectedto the inlet and outlet respectively of a second cooler. The movablevalve member .or plug has two bores and two recesses. Assuming that theplug member is in a position in which the first pair of theaforementioned openings is in .communication with said chambers, duringsuch communication the plug member may be turned slightly so that liquidmay be conducted from the second chamber through a bore into one of theother openings and simultaneously airmay be conducted from suchotheropening through a recess into a channel formed by the casing forconnection to a pressure responsive device.

Having described the method of operation of my invention, together withthe apparatus which I now consider to represent the best embodimentthereof, I desire to have it understood that the apparatus shown is onlyillustrative and that the invention may be carried out by other means.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the UnitedStates is:

. 1. Heat exchanger system comprising two surof liquid, a consumer, afirst and a second sur-' face type heat exchanger, means including avalve mechanism tor connecting either of the I heat exchangers in seriesbetween the source and the consumer, a locking member associated withthe valve mechanism to prevent transfer of oper-' ation from one heatexchanger to the other, and means connected to the locking member andresponsive to a condition indicative of a predetermined' degree orfilling of one of the heat exchangers for rendering the locking memberinoperative.

3. Heat exchanger system comprising a first and a second heat exchanger,a source oi liquid.

a consumer of liquid, means including a valve mechanism for connectingin one position the first and in another position the second heatexchanger in series between the source and the consumer, means foractuating the valve mechanism, a locking pin cooperatively associatedwith the actuating means and normally permitting limited movement onlyof th latter, and means including a device connected to the locking pinfor moving the locmng pin and automatically rendering it inoperativeupon a predetermined liquid level in one of the heat exchangers.

4. Heat exchanger system comprising a tank for liquid, two liquidcoolers, a consumer for liquid, means including a pump and a valve mechanism for forcing in one position of the mechanism liquid from thesource to one or the coolers to the consumer and for forcing in anotherposition of the valve mechanism liquid from the source through the othercooler to the consumer, an actuating member for the valve mechanism tochange operation from one cooler to the othe and means cooperativelyassociated with the member and the coolers for preventing suddentransfer of the operation from one cooler to the other and permittingsuch other cooler to be placed in operation only when substantiallyfilled with liquid.

5. Heat exchanger system comprising a tank for liquid, a. first and asecond liquid cooler, a consumer of liquid, means including a pump and avalve mechanism for forcing in one position of the mechanism liquid fromthe source through the first cooler to the consumer and tor forcing inanother position of the valve mechanism liquid from the source throughthe second cooler to the consumer, an actuating member for the valvemechanism to change operation from one cooler to the other, meansassociated with the valve mechanism and the coolers for preventingsudden transfer of operation from one cooler to the other and to permitoperation of such other cooler only when the latter is substantiallyfilled with liquid, and other means for rendering the last named meansinoperative during emergency.

6. Heat exchanger system comprising a. tank for liquid, two coolers foralternate use substantially enclosed within the tank, means including apump and a valve mechanism for forcing in one position of the mechanismliquid through one of the coolers and in another position of the valvemechanism through the other cooler to a consumer, means normally lockingthe valve mechanism and permitting limited movement thereof only toprevent sudden transfer of operation from one cooler to the other, andmeans including a pressure responsive device and channels, bores formedin the mechanism which upon limited movement of the valve mechanismestablish communication between the cooler not operating and the devicefor rendering the locking means inoperative upon said nonoperatingcooler becoming substantially filled with liquid.

7. Valve mechanism comprising a, casing having an inlet and an outlet, aplug valve member movable between two end positions and having twospaced slots each corresponding to one of said end positions disposedwithin the casing and forming a first and a. second chamber therewithcommunicating with the inlet and the outlet respectively, two openingsin the casing communieating with the first and second chamberrespectively in a certain end position 01. the plug valve member andanother two openings in the casing for communication with the first andsecond chambers respectively in another end position of the plug valvemember, means including a locking pin adapted to project into either ofsaid slots for limiting movement of the plug valve member between thecorresponding one of said end positions and a position away from saidend position insuflicient to change the communication of said chambers,and means for removing the locking pin including a cylinder forming apressure chamber and channels formed in the cylinder and the valvecasing for connecting the pressure chamber with one of said openings andfor establishing communication between said opening and one of saidvalve chambers upon the plug valve member being moved away from eitherof said end positions.

ANTHONY A. ABBATIELLO.

